Electronic identity card (abbreviated E.I.C.) will gradually replace, by year 2031, current standard identity cards held by majority of Romanian citizens, which is why current identity cards (1997 model) are valid only until 2031.
Both format of new E.I.C. and its contents are modified; for example, E.I.C. no longer includes holder’s domicile address printed on card, as current identity cards do.
Domicile address may be viewed by using mobile application “Ro CEI Reader” which reads domicile information stored on chip embedded in E.I.C., generating a printable document containing all personal data, including the domicile.
Another new feature is that E.I.C. includes holder’s handwritten signature, and at time of issuance, digital fingerprints are also collected.
E.I.C. may be issued, at request of one parent or legal representative, to minors under age of 14, and may also be used as a travel document in E.U. Member States, Schengen states, as well as in other countries (e.g., Turkey).
According to publicly available data, approximately 850,000 E.I.C.s have been issued to date; they allow holders to sign documents using an advanced electronic signature, which is granted same legal effect as handwritten signatures. Issuing first 3.5 million E.I.C.s does not involve any cost for persons over age of 14. After this threshold, issuance fee is Lei 70 (at present date).
Validity period is 10 years for adults between 18 to 70 years old, and unlimited for those over 70. For minors, validity period is: 2 years for children under 2 years old, 4 years for children aged 2 to 14, and 5 years for persons aged 14 to 18.
When E.I.C. is issued, holder must set two PIN codes: a 4-digit PIN used for online authentication and a 6-digit PIN for advanced electronic signatures. Forgetting or entering either PIN incorrectly 5 consecutive times results in deactivation of E.I.C., and need to present at a public community service office to reactivate codes; however, E.I.C. itself remains valid.
A major new element is that an E.I.C. can be requested at any public community service for personal records, regardless of domicile. Apart from current identity document and proof of domicile, as well as proof of payment fee, where applicable, no other documents are required for issuance.
